Under this scheme, the Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST) at IIT Kanpur, through its Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), is serving as a Knowledge Partner and inviting applications from student agripreneurs. This cohort will support four selected startups with a grant of up to ₹4 lakh each, disbursed on a milestone basis per RKVY-RAFTAAR programme guidelines. Beyond the grant, selected teams receive structured incubation at IIT Kanpur, including access to SIIC's facilities, tailored mentorship, and technical validation from domain experts. Students who physically participate in the one-month Agripreneurship Orientation Program are additionally eligible for a stipend of ₹10,000 per month during that period. The programme is designed to take agritech ideas from the idea stage to the pre-seed stage, with emphasis on problem relevance, innovation potential, and founder commitment rather than on prior traction. The focus sectors span the breadth of agriculture: farm technologies, agri-biotechnology, post-harvest management and value addition, AI and data-driven solutions in agriculture, agri-waste to wealth, farm mechanisation, and agri supply chain and market linkages. Market access support is a structured component of the programme , selected startups get assistance in piloting and scaling through connections with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), urban local bodies, industries, and farming communities. The programme also facilitates follow-on funding through investor connects and pitch sessions, providing a pathway for teams to raise capital after the grant period. SIIC IIT Kanpur has an established track record of incubating deep-tech and agritech ventures, and participation in this programme gives student founders direct access to IIT Kanpur's research infrastructure, faculty networks, and the broader RKVY-RAFTAAR government ecosystem , a meaningful launchpad for founders who want to build in the agritech space from the ground up.
